Sunday, January 31, 2010

Ner a car

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The Ner-a-Car was a type of feet forwards motorcycle designed by Carl Neracher in 1918. Around 6500 Ner-a-Cars are believed to have been produced between 1921 and 1927 in England, and about 10,000 Neracars (note different spelling) in the US. They were manufactured in England by the Sheffield-Simplex company and the Ner-a-Car Corporation in the United States.


The design had several unusual features, including an infinitely-variable friction drive transmission, and a low-slung monocoque chassis that was closer to those found on contemporary cars than other motorcycles. It also featured the first production example of hub-center steering on a motorcycle.


The earliest models had 221cc two-stroke engines. Starting in 1923 a 285cc engined model was introduced in England. In the US a 255cc model was introduced in 1924. In 1924 a Blackburne sidevalve 348cc engine driving through a three-speed manual transmission was introduced in England. The final English model was introduced in 1925 which differed from the 1924 model by using overhead valves.


Around 50 Ner-a-Cars are known to survive in England in 2001.



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